Portuguese Podengo

The Podengo needs an owner with both terrier and hound experience, as this small hunting breed fills both roles and really wants to work. For those who spend lots of time outdoors in a dog-safe environment, where there will be plenty of exercise, games and activities that fulfil their hunting needs, this is an engaging and fun breed. Ideal owners will be home much of the time or able to take their dog with them, and will enjoy training and managing this sparky little hound’s natural tendencies.

Country of Origin: Portugal

In Portugal, there are three sizes of Podengo, the smallest discussed here (and known as the Pequeno Podengo) is a ‘warren hound’, a multipurpose sight and scent hound bred to catch rabbits. The larger two (Medio and Grande Podengos) are used to catch wild boar and deer respectively. Although the little Podengo looks remarkably like a terrier, they were used in packs to kill and retrieve game, a distinctly hound like occupation.
Pods are also incredibly good mousers and ratters, loyal and faithful house guards and enjoy working with their owners on any task where they can be useful.
Existing on the Iberian Peninsular since the Phoenicians and Romans brought their dogs along with them, the Podengo has been around for over 2000 years, and has changed very little in that time. Now a companion and show dog in the UK and in the USA, these attractive little dogs are growing in popularity.

When it comes to dog exercise, the Podengo will be happy with two hours of walking which can be split into two shorter walks and should involve games and training along the way. If you are into dog activities and hobbies, the Podengo would enjoy man-trailing, agility and probably much more as they are a very adaptable little dog.

You can fit a Podengo in any sized home but you’ll need solid, secure and high fencing to keep them confined to your own garden. They are not suited to homes where they will be left alone for very long and will do better in a group, so room for more than one Podengo would be best. Good for the rural or suburban home, but probably not ideal for the urban dweller, they will alert bark to anything they deem suspicious and this could prove problematic with neighbours.

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food.

No special dog grooming requirements though the rough coat may benefit from being stripped out by hand once or twice a year. Brush through once a week and remember to check eyes, ears and paws for debris or foreign matter after each walk.

The Podengo is quick to learn, you need to be sure you are quicker than they are, and that will take some skill with positive reinforcement and clever management. They have a strong prey drive and as with all hounds, the ears tend to be switched off if the eyes or nose are on the trail of something small and furry. Early and consistent dog socialisation with other animals, particularly cats and livestock is vital to keep your Podengo out of trouble. The Podengo will enjoy training for fun, so lots of puzzle solving games and trick training can keep them well entertained.

For families with experience of the more primitive hound and terrier types, the Podengo can be a fun-loving companion. They are unsuited to long periods alone however, and do require a lot of exercise and training, and this time commitment may rule out busy families with very small children.

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.